Davidson Kempner and Afendis complete acquisition of YSCO, advancing Glacier's ambitions in European ice cream market

LONDON, Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP ("Davidson Kempner"), a global investment management firm, supported by operating partner Afendis Capital Management ("Afendis"), has completed the acquisition (the "Transaction") of ice cream producer YSCO through its ice cream investments platform, Glacier. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  

The acquisition is transformational for Glacier's ambitions to grow in the global ice cream industry, with YSCO joining Gelato d'Italia which was acquired in 2022. Gelato d'Italia is a leading independent ice cream producer with two sites in Italy and a key innovation and manufacturing partner for ice cream brand owners and retailers worldwide.

Bringing Gelato d'Italia together with YSCO will create one of the largest third-party ice cream manufacturers globally with revenues in excess of €600 million. Aligned in their commitments to innovation, efficiency and customer satisfaction, the companies are highly complementary in operations and ethos.

YSCO works closely with almost all the mainstream European retailers for the co-creation and production of their home-brand ice cream products. YSCO has production capabilities in Belgium and France and distributes up to 200 million liters of ice cream per year, predominately within the European market.

Glacier aims to leverage its scale to become a key partner to ice cream brand owners worldwide, aided by its commitment to delivering the fastest ideation-to-launch for new products.

Working with these international brand owners, Glacier is targeting international expansion and becoming the third-party ice cream manufacturer of choice.

Bert Van Nieuwenborgh, CEO of YSCO, said:

"This acquisition represents an exciting opportunity for YSCO to accelerate our growth as part of Glacier's ambitious vision. As Europe's second-largest private label ice cream producer, our expertise in large batch production and strong retailer relationships perfectly complement Glacier's innovative approach. Together, we are well-positioned to lead the way in a rapidly growing and evolving market, delivering exceptional value to our partners and customers."

Cem Karakaş, Chairperson of Glacier and Partner at Afendis, said:

"Glacier is perfectly positioned to capitalize on strong growth in the fragmented European third-party ice cream sector. By building on the success of Gelato d'Italia and leveraging YSCO's scale and expertise in long-run production of large batch products, Glacier is well-placed to be a leading player in Europe. This acquisition will be the launchpad for further expansion across the globe."

About Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP

Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP is a global investment management firm with over 40 years of experience and a focus on fundamental investing with a multi-strategy approach. Davidson Kempner has approximately $37 billion in assets under management and over 500 employees across seven offices: New York, Philadelphia, London, Dublin, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Mumbai. Additional information is available at: www.davidsonkempner.com.

About Afendis Capital Management

Afendis Capital Management is a specialist investor and investment manager of food and pharmaceutical businesses.

About Glacier

Glacier is a global ice cream investments platform backed by Davidson Kempner Capital Management and Afendis Capital Management. It unites leading producers like YSCO and Gelato d'Italia, creating one of the world's largest third-party manufacturers with revenues over €600 million. Glacier specializes in innovation, efficiency, and rapid ideation-to-launch, partnering with brand owners and retailers worldwide to drive growth and set new industry standards.

Contact details:

Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP
Dkmedia@dkp.com

Afendis Capital Management
Matthew Frost
mfrost@afendis.com